Essie's brow pinched as she regarded her friend. "I do hope that you improve soon, I'd hate for you to miss the Smithcote Route."
"I'm sure I'll be completely improved soon," Anna answered quickly, too quickly as far as Cross was concerned. She must have thought so as well, for she immediately slumped her shoulders slightly as if weakened. "But to insure that I'll be in attendance, it is of the utmost importance that I rest. You understand." Anna offered a weak smile.
Cross could help but simply watch the poor performance unfold and hope that Essie somehow fell for it.
"Of course! I'll be sure to check on you before I leave," Essie replied with a sympathetic tone.
"That would be lovely," Anna said and walked to the door. As Essie turned to face Cross, Anna glanced back and offered Cross a quick wink.
And closed the door.
Completely.
He would have to thank her later.
Profusely.
"Poor Anna! I do hope it's nothing serious." Essie's expression was still concerned as she strode further into the room.
"I'm absolutely certain she'll make a quick recovery. In fact, I wouldn't be surprised if she felt much better this very afternoon," Cross replied, careful to keep his tone from carrying the amusement he felt over the whole situation.
Yet the amusement faded as he watched Essie walk over to the couch and run her hand over the back of the cushion. She lifted her eyes to give him a quick smile, but it didn't reach her eyes.
"Essie? Is… are you well? You seem concerned…" Cross took a tentative step towards her.
"Oh, yes. I'm quite well, I just am… trying to build up the courage, I need to make another request, you see. And I'm afraid my request is far more… personal than my last." She gave him a hopeful smile, but her gaze lowered to her gloved hands as she picked at her dress.
Cross watched her, curious as to her request and how it could possibly be more personal than her first. How did one ask something more personal than courtship? Even if it was asked under a pretense?
"Essie, I assure you that I will do anything within my power to assist you in any way," Cross replied, concerned that maybe something was truly wrong.
"As much as it pains me to have Anna feeling unwell, it actually is a blessing. This would be decidedly far more awkward if she were present." Essie gave an uncomfortable half laugh as she glanced up to him, lowering her gaze once more.
Cross took another few steps toward her till he was close enough to see the light blue flecks in her eyes as she raised her gaze to meet his.
"Cross, I… that is…" She took a deep breath.
The anticipation and worry was slowly killing him.
"Will you kiss me?"
Cross simply stared. Replaying her request in his mind, making sure that what he heard was indeed what she said. Searching her earnest gaze, he tried to make sense of such a request, not that he minded! He had the impulse to pinch himself to see if he were a part of some erotic dream.
"Essie…" He whispered her name, tasting the sweetness of it on his tongue as he watched her gaze darken and travel his features till it landed on his lips.
When her gaze met his once more, there was a question in her eyes. Cross took a final step forward, making them close enough so that could feel the soft release of her breath.
He leaned forward slightly, watching as Essie swayed towards him, the fragrance from her skin teasing him, tempting him. He pressed his lips to hers, caressing them, tasting them and savoring their sweetness. He drew back slightly, pleased when she followed him. He took her lips once more, this time less chaste, more of a seduction of the mouth as he traced the seam of her lips with his tongue before retreating and pulling her lower lip. She gasped, and he took shameless advantage of her open mouth by pulling her lower lip between his teeth and nipping gently.
She was a quick study and began to mimic his attentions, first by pressing into his frame and reaching up to brace his shoulders. Cross guided her to tilt her head further so that he could deepen the kiss and she willingly followed his lead. Reaching around, he placed his hands on her waist, savoring the tempting curve beneath his fingers. Pulling her in tighter, her arms left his shoulders as she wound them around his neck. Cross darted his tongue along her teeth, gently, coaxingly. Tentatively, she tasted him with her own.
Two thoughts darted through his mind as he savored the bliss of her kiss, the utter ecstasy of her touch. First, that she was most certainly an innocent, which pleased him far more than he dared to admit.
Second, she had never told him why she wanted him to kiss her.
Now, that was a minor detail, but for some reason it continued to tickle his mind. Because as he was pouring himself into the kiss, savoring every hint of flavor from her lips and mouth, memorizing the shape of her body pressed against his, he grew acutely aware that perhaps… it wasn't real… for her.
With reluctance, he gradually ended the kiss, leaned back and relishing the passion in her gaze as he whispered her name. "Essie."
Her blue eyes were stormy and dark with desire, freshly awakened.
"I had no idea…" Essie whispered. Slowly she released her hold on his neck and glanced away, a deep blush coloring her cheeks.
"I'll take that as a compliment." Cross grinned, overly satisfied with himself.
"You would." Essie glanced back at him, narrowing her eyes in a teasing manner.
"But if I may ask, for the reason for your request?" Cross resisted the urge to loosen his cravat.
"I—that is…" Essie seemed to struggle. "I thought that perhaps… you could teach me."
Cross felt his heart still, before thumping painfully. Teach her? As if… as if his touch, his kiss were nothing more than a textbook on Latin or French.
"Pardon?" He asked, knowing his hurt was clear in his expression.
CHAPTER SIX
Essie had no idea what to do, what to say, or how to wipe the horrified expression from Cross' face. For pity's sake! Who kissed a woman like that and then expected her to come up with a rational answer? She had planned to use the whole 'teaching' idea as an excuse to ask for a kiss, but he, well, didn't need an excuse, apparently.
When he'd kissed her, it was beyond anything she could have ever imagined. It was the fireworks at Vuxhall gardens, power, exploding and full of passion and life. She didn't want it to end! Rather she wanted to kiss the hurt from his face, make him forget her ill-timed words and the pathetic excuse that they gave.
But she had no idea how… especially when he turned his back on her and faced the fire.
Essie felt frozen, not knowing what to do.
"I think…" Cross began.
Essie glanced up, hopefully.
"I think perhaps, you should leave, Miss Esther." Cross' tone was dark. "In my current state, I find I'm far more inclined to… teach you… as you put it, far more than kissing."
Essie gasped silently.
He turned slightly, the fire illuminating his gaze, making it cobalt fire.
"What if…" Essie swallowed and took a tentative step forward. "What if I want you to?" she dared, watching his brooding face make a slight shift to surprise before settling back on his previous expression.
"You don't. You may think you do, but this is all a game, is it not? We don't want to risk making it irrevocable," Cross replied coolly, yet his expression was far from indifferent. He appeared a man fiercely controlled, a man guarded.
Why? His words were at war with his actions—his very expression. But wasn't that how it was when they waltzed? And then again at the park? It was almost as if… he were protecting himself.
From her.
Understanding dawned, causing a mischievous grin to tease her lips.
"I fail to see anything amusing about the given situation or topic of conversation." Cross narrowed his eyes, considering her with suspicion.
Biting her lip, she tried to control her joy at the realization that all along, Cross had wanted her.
And sh
e wanted him every bit as much.
In his kiss she found the truth—about him, about herself. Yet as she gazed at him, she saw the distance between them.
Just because she had discovered the truth, didn't mean that he was aware.
But she was quite certain she could remedy that.
She would remedy that, and quickly.
"Cross?" Tilting her head she took a bold step toward him, offering him what she hoped was a flirtatious grin.
He backed up a step, misgiving thick in his gaze.
His countenance changed from skeptical to resolute, his gaze firming. "Essie." He spoke her name softly, as if caressing it.
She paused.
He took a step towards her, bringing them almost toe to toe. "When will you finally realize that you are mine?" Immediately his lips crushed against hers, his arms pulling her tightly against him, holding his firm body against her soft curves.
Essie met his passion with her own, allowing her fingers the delight of tugging his coal black hair. He groaned against her mouth, pausing only a moment before his fervent kiss continued, trailing along her lips and to her jaw. His shadow of a beard gently chaffed against her sensitive skin as he lightly nipped at the delicate flesh just below her ear. His kisses trailed down her neck to her collar, where his tongue tasted her, as if starving for her, he met her mouth once more.
She knew the hunger; she felt it within as well. Her hands roamed his back, memorizing the hard lines of his musculature; caressing his rounded, broad shoulders. His well-formed shoulders bunched and coiled beneath her fingers, as he pressed into her, walking her backwards as she clung to him, till her knees hit the settee and she was guided into a recline.
His delicious weight was a welcome pleasure as she continued to relish his ardent kisses. His teeth nipped her ear before trailing kisses down her throat and nudging the edge of her dress with his nose.
Essie was lost in the spell he had woven over them, completely given over to the passionate haze of desire that was thick like winter fog.
So thick, that she didn't hear the knock.
Or the sound of slippered feet on the wood floors.
She did, however, hear the loud gasp, which was like ice water on a roaring fire.
Shocking, but only enough to control the flames.
Because when Cross broke their kiss and saw his sister's face, Essie could only wish she'd leave once more so that they could continue.
They would continue… but not now.
"I… that is… I'm leaving," Anna stuttered and spun to leave, but turned back around. Raising her finger, she opened her mouth a few times, finally speaking. "I—I am very happy for you two." She grinned and left again, closing the door firmly.
"I take it she's feeling better?" Essie spoke, her voice foreign to her own ears as it was still thick with desire.
Cross' gaze searched hers, his expression triumphant and victorious. "I'd say yes… but she was never ill to begin with." He winked as he lifted himself from his position over her and, once standing, offered her his hand.
"She wasn't ill?" Essie asked, her heart hammering as she watched Cross, his blue eyes watching her with a possessive—dare are she hope—love?
"No… you see." He ran his hand through his mussed hair, taming it slightly.
Essie chuckled as she looked at his disheveled state.
"You're rather… ravished yourself." Cross raised his eyebrows, his gaze raking her body possessively.
"You don't have to be so smug about it," Essie teased as she straightened her dress and patted her hair, quickly realizing it was a lost cause.
That would be difficult to explain.
"I'm never smug." Cross pretended to be offended.
Essie sniffed delicately, but then she grinned.
"To answer your question, Anna was simply pretending to be sick in order for us to have some privacy."
"Privacy?" Essie felt her brow furrow.
"Yes, Indeed. And I do believe we used it effectively, don't you?" He smiled playfully.
She bit her lip, remembering all too well the satiny texture of his lips pressed against hers.
Wanting that sensation, hungering for it.
"I don't understand… how I never saw it. Rather, how I never saw you." Essie spoke softly, searching his face, tracing the outline of his body and memorizing every cut and angle.
"I'm quite certain I can imagine all sorts of ways you can make up for your ignorance." Cross winked as he reached out and pulled her into an embrace.
"I can imagine quite a few ways of my own…" she murmured as she reached up and kissed his lips softly.
He groaned. "How can something so wonderful be so torturous?" he mumbled against her lips just before he kissed her hungrily.
"How indeed." Essie giggled, breaking the contact, but only for a moment before she returned his kiss.
"Marry me?" Cross whispered the words against her wet lips, plump and swollen from his ardent kiss.
Essie opened her eyes to meet his gaze, bathing in the glory of his words. Of their intentions… of the promise they held.
"Yes," she whispered back. She delighted in the victorious ferocity that lit his eyes—that she tasted as he ravaged her mouth once more.
This time, however, she did hear the knock, and tried to untangle herself from Cross' grip, he simply held her tighter, grinning wildly.
Lady Crossby walked in, her steps halting as a confused expression scrunched up her face.
Essie had known Lady Crossby most of her life, and to be caught in such a compromising position before a mother figure… was uncomfortable.
Apparently Cross didn't feel the same lack of comfort, rather he held her tighter, caressing her back softly, reassuringly?
"Cross! Release Essie this moment!" She scolded as she appeared to gain her wits and strode towards them.
"Forgive me, I was simply carried away with the moment… seeming as I just gained a fiancée."
"Fiancée?" Lady Crossby's gaze darted between them, her eye wide. "Fiancée!" She clapped excitedly! "When Anna said I needed to check in the library I had no idea that I would be walking into such wondrous news!" She rushed forward and pulled Essie and Cross into an awkward hug.
Cross refused to release her, rather used the hug as an excuse to lower his hand on her waist and pat her bum.
She glared at him.
He returned her glare with a wide grin, mischievous and light.
As if all was right in his world.
She recognized the expression because she felt the same way.
Then she remembered Lady Crossby's words. "Anna sent you here?" She leaned back and regarded Lady Crossby's confused expression.
"Why, yes. I assumed it was because she knew of your engagement."
"Of course!" Cross answered, casting a knowing glace to Essie.
Because Anna, mischievous hoyden that she was, had sent Lady Crossby into the library in hopes of her discovering Essie and Cross in a compromising position.
And she almost had!
Essie shook her head, making both a mental note to throttle and then thank her friend.
"Anna always was a keen one," Cross replied to his mother. His mouth pulled tightly as if trying to suppress a wide grin.
"Yes, well I'll simply pass along the wonderful news to your father. I assume your parents haven't heard the delightful news yet, dear?" She asked Essie.
"No, it's quite… recent." She smiled secretly at Cross.
"In my opinion, it's quite overdue," Lady Crossby responded, twisting her lips in a wry manner. "After all, you two were the only ones who didn't see it."
"Pardon?" Essie asked, her brow pinching.
"Your parents and my husband and I have often spoken and wondered when the two of you would realize just what a profitable match this would be! And then you were betrothed to Trighton. I didn't like the fellow much mind you, but it wasn't my place to say anything. You're better off without him… something strange about him anyw
ay." She shivered delicately. "I'm simply quite pleased in how things turned out." She nodded emphatically.
"All we need to do is get your sister married off now!" Lady Crossby replied as she patted Essie's shoulder and turned to leave.
Cross wasted no time, but took full advantage of his mother's turned back to place a quick kiss to Essie's lips.
"Oh!" Lady Crossby turned as she reached the door. "Essie, darling, you'll want to… tidy yourself up a bit before you return home. Though you're engaged, we don't want people to think you had to marry, if you get my meaning." She raised a dark eyebrow and left.
Closing the door.
What was it with this family? It was as if they wanted her ruined!
Not that her interlude with Cross had been anything but; however, that was private. Or so she had though till Lady Crossby referenced her appearance.
"Don't worry about Mother." Cross spoke lightly, smiling at her.
"I wasn't, I was worried more about my appearance and the impression it gives," Essie replied wryly.
"You've never looked lovelier."
"You better say that, you're the cause of it!" She teased, pushing his shoulder slightly.
"I'll try to be more cautious next time." He glanced at her hair.
"See that you do." She blushed.
"However…" Cross' eyes twinkled with mischief as he reached up and deftly began pulling out her pins.
"What are you doing?" Essie placed her hands over his, trying to stop him.
"Since there is utterly no hope of redemption for your current coiffure…" Cross swatted her hands away and began to pull out her pins. "Waste not, want not." He pulled out her final pin and allowed it to clink to the ground.
"But everyone knows we're here! They could walk in at any moment!" Essie cried in a whisper, but without heat as Cross lowered his head to kiss the hollow of her throat.
"My mother closed the door. Believe me, she will not return." He teased her flesh with his tongue. "Because she knows I'll be honorable… but only as much as absolutely necessary." He captured her mouth in a hungry kiss as his hands, somehow now bare from his gloves, wove through her hair and drew her into the haze of desire once more.
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